Nagpur: In a major step towards enhancing road safety in India, the SaveLIFE Foundation has partnered with the Volvo For Life Fund, a global philanthropic initiative by Volvo Cars, to reduce road crash fatalities in Nagpur district — one of the country’s deadliest regions for road accidents.

This collaboration was announced during the UN Global Road Safety Week 2025 and is part of SaveLIFE Foundation’s Zero Fatality District (ZFD) programme, which is being implemented in 20 districts across India. In 2024 alone, Nagpur (Rural) recorded 436 fatalities and 408 fatal crashes, positioning it as a critical area of concern.

Two major causes behind these fatalities are overspeeding (18.5%) and dangerous pedestrian behaviour (7.96%), highlighting the need for urgent and targeted interventions. The ZFD model addresses such issues through a structured, evidence-based strategy known as the 4Es of road safety — Engineering, Emergency Care, Enforcement, and Education.

Under this partnership, several life-saving interventions are being rolled out in Nagpur (Rural), including:

• Speed enforcement mechanisms to reduce crash-related deaths due to overspeeding
• Improved highway medians and access point treatments with retro-reflective safety measures and delineators for enhanced visibility
• Traffic calming solutions and upgraded road signage to control vehicle speeds and protect vulnerable road users
• Safer pedestrian crossings and walkways to reduce accidents involving foot traffic

Louise Thompson, Head of the Volvo For Life Fund, stated, “Volvo Cars is committed to protecting lives, both inside and outside the vehicle. Our partnership with SaveLIFE Foundation aims to demonstrate how collaborative, scalable interventions can turn high-risk corridors into safe, walkable streets.”

Piyush Tewari, Founder and CEO of SaveLIFE Foundation, emphasized the urgent need for systemic change. “India loses over 1.7 lakh lives to road crashes every year — a silent epidemic that demands urgent, systemic solutions. Our partnership with Volvo Cars brings together world-class engineering and grassroots impact to dramatically reduce fatalities.”

By integrating safety innovation with on-ground implementation, the Volvo-SaveLIFE initiative is setting a new standard for road safety programmes in India. The scalable ZFD framework aims to embed sustainable safety interventions within existing government systems, offering a long-term solution to one of India’s most pressing public health crises.